Quick assessment of quality‐of‐life in itch: An exploratory validation of the 5‐item pruritus life quality

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic pruritus (CP) significantly impairs quality of life (QoL), but existing patient-reported QoL tools are either not specific for CP or are very extensive. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The 5-item pruritus life quality (5PLQ, range: 5-25, 7-day recall) was developed to assess key itch-related QoL domains (sensory symptoms, impact on daily life, social interactions, sleep and psychological well-being). Adult patients with CP across nine European centers (n = 471) completed the 5PLQ twice, 60 minutes apart, and itch intensity (numerical rating scale/visual analogue scale) and QoL (Dermatology Life Quality Index/ItchyQol) scales. Construct and structural validity, internal consistency, convergent and external validity and test-retest reliability were analyzed. ROC analysis evaluated discrimination across QoL impairment levels. RESULTS: Mean 5PLQ scores were 15.0 ± 4.8 and 14.8 ± 5.0. The scale revealed good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach α: 0.816), weak to strong correlations across items (r = 0.343-0.619, p < 0.001) and strong to very strong correlations between single items and total score (r = 0.640-0.809, p < 0.001), strong correlations with QoL (r = 0.706-0.745, p < 0.001) and itch intensity (r = 0.407-0.608, p < 0.001), and high test-retest reliability (interclass correlation for single measures: 0.669). A cut-off of 13 best discriminated none/mild from moderate/severe impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The 5PLQ is a brief, validated, reliable and user-friendly tool for assessing itch-related QoL in CP.